Portable reel



Sept. 6, 1955 S. F. M DONALD PORTABLE REEL Filed Feb. 8, 1952 CM/L/ Seymour United States Patent PORTABLE REEL Seymour F. McDonald, Livingston, Tex.

Application February 8, 1952, Serial No. 270,542

2 Claims. (Cl. 242-99) This invention relates to a portable reel for cable, wire, and the like, and particularly to a reel adapted to be carried by a single person for the controlled stringing or taking up of such cable, wire, and the like, over the earths surface.

In many instances, it is desired to lay a cable, wire, or the like, from one point on the earths surface to another for some particular use. After such use has occurred, the cable or wire may be reeled up again for use in a different location. For example, in geophysical work, cables are laid from a receiving truck to a geophone as well as to the explosive charge. In many instances, a plurality of geophones are employed and a cable must be strung to each of them from the truck. It is important in such work that the cables be quickly laid down and taken up not only so that the soundings can be quickly taken, but also to avoid periods of idleness on the part of the workmen while awaiting the stringing of the cables. Further, the geophones are situated, from location to location, at varying distances from the truck and, therefore, the length of cable necessary to reach between the truck and geophone will vary from time to time. It would be desirable in such instances to employ a reel constructed and arranged so that a length of cable partially unreeled therefrom could be connected to the geophone and the truck without completely unreeling the cable from the reel to reach both of its ends. Also, under certaincircumstances, it is desirable to maintain a slight tension on the cable as it is being unreeled to ensure that it will lay straight on the ground and that a. minimum amount of cable will be employed in reaching from one point to another.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable reel for reeling and unreeling cable, wire and the like therefrom which can be easily carried by a single individual and which is provided with means for maintaining a desired tension on the cable as it is being laid and for preventing a more rapid rotation of the reel than is required to unreel the desired length of cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable reel wherein a drum for receiving cable, wire or the like is mounted on a frame by means of a, coaster brake which is driven by a crank so that the unreeling of the cable from the drum can be controlled by the braking action of the coaster brake and so that the cable can be wound on the drum by turning the crank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable reel wherein a coaster brake is rotatably mounted on a frame and a receiving drum is provided for mounting'on the coaster brake, the drum and coaster brake being so constructed and arranged that the drum can be quickly removedv from the brake so that the drum can be reversed, end for end.

Another object of this invention is to provide in such a portable reel a drum so constructed and arranged that it is quickly removable from the apparatus and which is provided with suitable openings permitting ready access to an end of a cable wound on the drum whereby both ends of the cable are free for connection even though a portion of the cable remains wound on the drum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable 2,717,129 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 reel wherein a drums rotation is controlled by a coaster brake when unreeling cable and wherein the drum can be easily removed and turned, end for end, for rernounting on the. apparatus toperrnit rewinding of the cable thereon.

Other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the written specification, the appended claims and the attached drawings wherein:

- Fig. l is a frontal view of the apparatus illustrating itsmethod of use:

Fig. 2 is a rear view similar to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged frontal view of the apparatus similar to that of Fig. 1 except the details of the cable winding drum have been omitted to more clearly illustrate the remainder of the apparatus; and

, Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the apparatus partially in cross-section and particularly illustrates the com struction of the drum of this invention. 7

Like characters of reference are used throughout the. several views to designate like parts.

Referring nowto Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a frame 10. which, preferably, is shaped to fit around the chest of a. person by having a relatively straight front portion 11 and curved side portions 12 and 13v adapted to. fit at the waist of such person. Shoulder straps 14 and 1.5. are carried, by the frame and are adapted to fit over the shouldersv of a person as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to, support the frame. These straps can be of leather or. other suitable material to. ensure comfort and fit with the wearer.

Extending from front portion 11 of frame 10, is a. shaft or axle 16 which can bev connected to the frame by a. boss or plate portion 17. Mounted on the aXle is a. coaster brake 18. having a sprocket 19 connected thereto. As used herein, the term coaster brake is meant to lesig'nate an assembly adapted to be mounted upon a fixed, axle or shaft for rotation with respect thereto when the sprocket carried by the assembly is driven in one direction and to effect a braking action relative to the axle when the sprocket is urged in an opposite direction. The waster brake is freewheeling in that the brake is freeto turn in the direction it is normally driven by the sprocket without rotating the latter; that is, in this. direction.,, the sprocket can rotate the brake, but the brake cannot rotate the sprocket. This type of assembly is a commercial product readily available on the market today and is well known to those skilled in the art. It is widely employed to mount the rear wheels of commonv bicycles. as is known to those familiar with bicycles. In view of this substantially universal knowledge of this device and use on bicycles, further description will not be given herein.

Connected to axle 16 and extending laterally of coaster brake 18 is an arm. 20. A brace 20a is provided between arm 20 and frame 10v to increase the rigidity of arm 20 with respect to the frame. Near the outer end of arm 20 is situated a crank 21 which is journaled into the arm for rotation, with respect thereto. Crank 21 has a handle 22 adapted to. be grasped by a person to turn the crank. At the other end of the crank is a sprocket 23 connected to the crank and adapted to be rotated thereby. A chain 24 connects sprocket 23 with sprocket 19 so that upon actuation of crank 21, the coaster brake can be rotated orits braking action effected depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank. Viewing the apparatus from its side on which frame 10 is situated, coaster brakev 18 and crank 21 are so connected that upon rotation of the crank in a clockwise direction, the coaster brake will be rotated. Uponrotation of the crank in a counterclockwise direction, the braking action of the coaster brake will be effected. It is to be understood, however, that this orientation of parts can be reversed so that upon turning of the crank 21 in a clockwise direction the braking action of the coaster brake will be effected and upon turning it in a counterclockwise direction, the coaster brake will be rotated.

Coaster brake 18 has an annular collar 25 secured thereto near its inner end and is threaded at its outer end to receive a nut 26 which, with washer 27, is adapted to hold drum 28 in place upon the coaster brake.

Drum 28 is constructed and arranged as to be rotatable by coaster brake 18 to wind 21 cable 29 thereon and is further of such construction that it can be easily connected to and removed from the coaster brake. The drum comprises two parallel opposite end panel members 30 and 31, generally circular in configuration, and an axial cylindrical portion 32 extending between the drum members and providing an opening through the drum. Axial portion 32 is of such diameter that it can be easily slid on and off from coaster brake 18 to provide for ready mountability and demountability of drum 28 on the coaster brake. The drum has a cable receiving peripheral portion, U-shaped in cross-section, provided by an annular wall member 33 extending between end panels 30 and 31 and radially spaced outwardly from axial portion 32. An opening 34 is provided in annular wall 33 and another opening 35 is provided in end panel 31. In this manner and with cable 29 wound upon the drum as illustrated in Fig. 4, both ends of the cable are free for connecting in a circuit. Hence, it is unnecessary to completely unwind the cable from the drum in order to uncover both ends of the cable for making such connections.

Means are provided for connecting drum 28 and coaster brake 18 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Such means can comprise a key 36 slidable in a keyway 37 in the coaster brake and in a radially opposite keyway in the drum. The key can be relatively loose-fitting so as to be positionable without tools and can be maintained in place by washer 27. In addition to the keyway occupied by the key as illustrated in Fig. 4, a second keyway 38 is provided in the drum extending from the opposite face thereof. With such an arrangement, the drum can be removed from the apparatus, turned end for end and replaced thereon.

In discussing the operation of the portable reel of this invention, let it be assumed that it is desired to unreel cable therefrom. The drum is mounted on the apparatus in such a manner that as it rotates to unreel the cable, it will turn coaster brake 18 in its free wheeling direction Without rotating sprocket 19. Upon rotation of crank 21 in such a direction as to turn sprocket 19 in a direction opposite to the free wheeling direction of the coaster brake, the braking action of the latter will be effected which will either stop or reduce the rate of rotation of drum 28. The braking action is particularly important when it is desired to maintain a tension on the cable 29 as it is unreeled in order to ensure the latter will lie straight upon the ground. It is also important when the person unreeling the cable reduces his walking rate or in such case, the inertia of drum 28 tends to revolve it faster than is required to pay out the necessary length of cable. This over-shooting of drum 28 can be etfectively eliminated by the application of suitable braking pressure through crank 21. When the desired length of cable has been strung, nut 26 and washer 27 can be removed from the apparatus and drum 28 slid from its position on the coaster brake. Connection can then be made with both ends of the cable even though a portion of the cable still remains wound upon the drum by simply taking the end of the cable which extends through opening 34 and pulling it out through opening 35 to permit ready access thereto.

When it is desired to rewind the cable upon drum 28, the coaster brake is inserted into the drum in a direction opposite to that from which it occupied when the cable was being unreeled. After key 36 has been placed to register with the keyways in drum 28 and coaster brake 18, washer 27 and nut 26 are replaced to secure the drum to the coaster brake. Then, upon rotation of crank 21, drum 28 will be revolved to wind cable 29 thereon as the wearer of the apparatus walks along the cable. When the apparatus is viewed in use as in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that arm 20 is sufiiciently long to permit clearance between crank 21 and the body of the wearer of the apparatus when the crank is rotated. Also, it will be noted that the arrangement is such that the axis of drum 28 is situated sufliciently high on the wearer to permit his walking about whereas arm 20 extends downwardly and outwardly from such axis to provide for easy manipulation of crank 21.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one wall adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcome binations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the.

invention without departing from the scope thereof, it

is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1.. A portable reel for cable, wire and the like which comprises, in combination, a frame, an axle mounted by one of its ends to said frame, a coaster brake on said axle for rotation with respect thereto, said brake being disposed with one of its ends free and more remote from said frame than its other end, a crank, an arm carried by said frame and rotatably mounting said crank laterally of said coaster brake, means connecting said 'crank'to said brake at a point between said brake and said frame so that rotation of said crank in one direction drives said brake and in the other direction actuates the brake to cause a braking action, a drum removably mounted'on said coaster brake, said drum having an axial portion freely slidable onto said brake from either end of the axial portion, means preventing relative rotation between the drum and brake, and removable fastening means connecting the brake and drum to maintain the drum on a said brake.

. vided in the bottom of said U-shaped portion and one side of said drum whereby an inner end of a cable wound on said drum may be made accessible for a connection there- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,401 Morris et a1 May 20, 1890 446,487 V annatta Feb. 17, 1891 648,630 Nester May 1, 1900 1,099,5l7 Schwanengel et al. June 9, l9l4 1,115,325 McCall Oct. 27, 1914 1,663,766 Landis Mar. 27, 1928 1,852,517 Harrison Apr.'5, 1932 1,892,276 Johnson Dec. 27, 1932 1,915,238 Mosher et al June 20, 1933 2,257,023 Ray Sept. 23-, 1941 2,269,808 Cabassa Jan. 13, 1942 2,412,396 Hanna Dec. 10, 1946 2,476,928 Thomas July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 649,232 France Dec. 19, 1928 385,769 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1933 

